SEATTLE — Seattle U baseball (6-12, 1-4 WAC) outlasted New Mexico State in Western Athletic Conference action on Friday, as the Redhawks registered a 2-1 victory in the series opener to snap a seven-game skid.
Tied 1-1 in the eighth, Derek Gellos led the home half with a pinch hit single to left. Austin Lively then hit a soft dribbler back to the mound that could have been a double play, however a botched throw to second pulled the NMSU shortstop off the bag, allowing Gellos and Lively to be safe. Now at first and second, Chase Wells then advanced the runners 90 feet with a sacrifice bunt.
Seattle U then loaded the bases as NMSU elected to send Kyle Sherick to first with an intentional walk. Then with the next batter at the plate, the Aggie hurler bounced a pitch that went to backstop allowing Gellos enough time to race in from third for the go-ahead run.
The afternoon affair was a defensive battle, as both teams combined for nine hits and 21 runners stranded.
Seattle U starter Morgan White was in rhythm early as he began the outing with back-to-back strikeouts, while facing the minimum in back-to-back frames. The right-hander also showed his poise, left Aggie runners in scoring position during the third and fifth. His day then came to end after five scoreless innings, while surrendering three hits, three walks and tallying six strikeouts.
The Redhawks offense struggled make to make contact during the opening four frames. In the fifth, Sherick broke up the Aggies' no-hit bid with two-out single through the middle. Sherick moved to third as Seattle U loaded the bases, but the Redhawks were unable to push him across.
Then in the sixth, Justin Mazzone broke the scoreless deadlock with a solo blast to center to lead-off the inning. It was his second home run of the season and the 11th of his career.
New Mexico State then answered in the seventh behind a pair of singles. Reliever Peter Chronowski minimized the damage, leaving two Aggie runners in scoring position.
The Redhawks bullpen was efficient late as Desmond Parisotto tossed eight pitches to retire the NMSU order in the eighth, before Lucas Ford secured the victory with a three-up, three-down appearance of his in own in the ninth. Parisotto was credited with win and moved to 2-0 on the year, while Ford picked his third save of the season.
The series will resume tomorrow with a scheduled doubleheader, first pitch from game one is slated for 12 pm.